Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 877: Chapter 877 Unexpected Visitors

Then for the next several days, Liu Sisi was immersed in loss, finding herself listless in everything she did.

Soon, it was time to tally up the income from the several shops after one month of business. Liu Sisi calculated the earnings and gathered 10,000 taels of silver to present to His Majesty.

Though the shops seemed to have made a substantial amount of silver, after accounting for various expenses, the actual profit was just under that 10,000 taels of silver.

Di Yelei entered the palace with the silver ticket for 10,000 taels but returned with several treasures bestowed by His Majesty.

“His Majesty said that the 10,000 taels of silver should be considered your act of respecting him, and from now on, you should keep that silver by your side; he is not in need of that silver.”

Liu Sisi narrowed her eyes, “Didn’t you say that the national bank is severely depleted now?”

“You! Even if the national bank is extremely empty, His Majesty wouldn’t covet his own daughter’s private savings, right?” This wasn’t about the silver; it was about face.

Liu Sisi covered her mouth and giggled softly, “That’s good then! From now on, the silver earned from the shops will be saved for YingEr and Niuniu’s dowries.”

“Let’s save it. Apart from New Year and other festivals, we’ll give our respects where due, and we’ll save the rest of the silver. The expenses for our big family are not small,” Di Yelei said with much more relaxed demeanor.

As the two were chatting happily, Er Niu rushed over from outside in a hurry.

“Old Master Marquis, Princess, outside… Eldest Miss has returned! The Eldest Miss has come back.”

YingEr has returned? It’s truly a case of speak of the devil and he shall appear!

The two were overjoyed, instantly rising from their chairs, “Are you saying YingEr is back? Where is she now?”

Er Niu was exceptionally happy too, “Your Highness Princess, the Eldest Miss is just outside the mansion’s gate, and with the Eldest Miss there’s also…”

But before he could finish speaking, Liu Sisi had already hurriedly stepped out of the small courtyard, heading towards the entrance gate of the manor.

“Quickly, quickly, YingEr is back! Let’s go.”

Before everyone had made it outside, they saw a group of people walking briskly over the rockery in the garden towards them. Leading them was indeed YingEr.

Di Ying bowed gracefully, her face full of joy, “Dad, mom, YingEr has returned.”

“YingEr, YingEr, you’ve finally returned. Good, it’s good you’re back, truly good, it’s wonderful!”

Liu Sisi, excited, embraced YingEr, gently feeling her back that seemed even thinner, “It’s good that you’re back. Don’t worry, YingEr, we’ll take our time to find a famous doctor, okay? We will surely get your health back on track. My dear!”

This brought tears to Di Ying’s eyes, “Mom! YingEr missed you so much…”

The mother and daughter cried in each other’s arms.

After a while, they finally separated, “My dear, don’t cry! Your body is weak, you mustn’t have such extreme emotions.”

As Liu Sisi spoke, she carefully took out a towel to wipe her daughter’s face, and that’s when she noticed that accompanying Di Ying back to the manor was Zuo Xingyu, and beside him stood someone Liu Sisi had not expected—Liu Zhi’er.

“Sisi…”

Liu Zhi’er smiled, but then seemed to remember something and quickly curtseyed, “Liu Zhi’er pays respects to Princess Ruyu, pays respects to Marquis Yongping.” Beside her, Zuo Xingyu also offered a respectful fist greeting.

But before Liu Zhi’er could fully bow, Liu Sisi rapidly stepped forward to help her up.

“Second Sister, you are my second sister; how can there be a custom of a sister bowing to her younger sister? Please, stand up quickly.”

“It is only proper, only proper.”

Liu Zhi’er timidly took a step back, subconsciously grabbing onto Da Mao beside her, “Quick, Da Mao, go and pay your respects to your uncle and aunt.”

Nowadays Da Mao was almost unrecognizable to Liu Sisi, having grown so much taller at nine years old. Though still somewhat shy, he obediently moved forward two steps and bowed.

“Liu Ke pays his respects to uncle and aunt.”

Over the years, Da Mao had taken the surname of Liu Zhi’er.

“Good, good, Da Mao, get up quickly and come over to meet your cousins,” Di Yelei hurriedly called out to Da Mao.

Liu Sisi then noticed that the children had already greeted each other and were now gathered around Di Ying, asking about the events of the past days.

Zuo Xingyu, who had been frowning since entering the door, stepped forward at that moment and gave Liu Sisi a fist greeting.

“Princess, Xingyu is grateful to have completed the mission without dishonor and has safely brought YingEr back.”

He had promised Sisi to protect YingEr with all his might, and now that Di Ying was safely back, he had fulfilled his initial promise.

“Big Brother Zuo, thank you for your help,” Sisi said.

There were many things Liu Sisi wanted to ask Zuo Xingyu, but this was not the right time.

“You must be tired now, go wash up, have some food to fill your stomachs, and tonight we will hold a banquet in honor of both of you,” she said.

Indeed, everyone was tired, cold, and hungry, so naturally, they did not decline and followed the servants to freshen up.

In the evening, Liu Sisi truly prepared a feast to treat everyone.

YingEr was obviously delighted, holding Niuniu with one hand and Chou Chou with the other – Chou Chou’s facial wound had already healed, and at the moment, he looked up admiringly at YingEr, listening intently to her recounting of the journey’s events.

“It’s so good, so good to hear! Eldest Sister, tell us two more good stories, please,” Chou Chou said, twisting YingEr’s hand and refusing to let go.

With no way out, Di Ying had to say, “Okay, Chou Chou, stop pulling on Eldest Sister’s clothes, Eldest Sister will tell you another one. When we got to a small town, we happened to come across a vendor selling sugarcane. An Elder Uncle weighed three sticks, one big and two small, and the vendor said, ‘In total, 21 pounds, 10 copper coins.’ The Elder Uncle thought for a while, then took out a big stick of sugarcane to weigh again, and the vendor said, ‘In total, 16 pounds, eight copper coins.’ Without another word, the Elder Uncle put down two copper coins, took the big stick of sugarcane, and walked away.”

“Eldest Sister, I get it! The vendor was dishonest – he was rigging the scale! In the end, he suffered a loss without even realizing it!” Chou Chou said with a triumphant smile.

“Exactly! Our Chou Chou is the smartest,” said Di Ying, not stinting his praise, which made Chou Chou blush with embarrassment.

“Tell another one, Eldest Sister! Please tell another one!” Niuniu said, not to be outdone.

“Okay, I’ll tell another one…”

While everyone was immersed in joy, Liu Sisi quietly approached Zuo Xingyu, who was standing to the side.

“Big Brother Zuo, there weren’t any big issues on the road, were there?”

Zuo Xingyu had been silent and hiding in the corner, but in fact, he would steal glances at Liu Sisi from time to time. She seemed to have lost some weight recently, yet her smile was especially light and joyful. Occasionally, she would tilt her head and say something to Di Yelei, the corners of her mouth upturned in a good mood.

But it caused his heart to sink to the depths.

Sisi, it seems… she’s living quite well.

“Nothing serious, but we met a famous doctor. Since it was an opportunity not to be missed, I took the liberty of deciding for YingEr to stay for treatment,” he said, his eyes fixed on her without blinking.